Colmars

Colmars
Colmars
Administration
Country	France
Region	Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Department	Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Arrondissement	Castellane
Canton	Allos-Colmars
Intercommunality	Haut Verdon-Val d'Allos
Mayor	Fernand Dyen (2008–2014)
Statistics
Elevation	1,178–2,742 m (3,865–8,996 ft) (avg. 1,250 m/4,100 ft)
Land area1	81.82 km2 (31.59 sq mi)
Population2	384  (2008)
- Density	5 /km2 (13 /sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	04061/ 04370
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Coordinates: 44°10′55″N 6°37′38″E / 44.182°N 6.6272°E / 44.182; 6.6272

Colmars or Colmars-les-Alpes (Còumars in provençal) is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France.

The official name of the commune, according to the geographical code of the INSEE, is "Colmars", but it is always referred locally as "Colmars-les-Alpes", even though it is not recognised in legal situations. The signs on entering the village read "Colmars-les-Alpes".

Geography

The village is situated at the conflence of the Verdon and Lance rivers, at an altitude of 1250 metres. The site of the village is a site inscrit, a site of special natural, scientific or historical interest.

Hamlets

There are two other hamlets in the commune: Clignon-Haut and Clignon-Bas.

Population

Historical population of Colmars

1700	1716	1717	1765	1793	1800	1806	1821	1831	1836
1712	1672	1320	1723	1100	898	927	961	927	986

1841	1846	1851	1856	1861	1866	1872	1876	1881	1886
1033	1055	1097	1092	1118	1002	1004	990	818	845

1891	1896	1901	1906	1911	1921	1926	1931	1936	1946
777	708	715	707	717	550	507	424	405	389

1954	1962	1968	1975	1982	1990	1999	2008
351	311	360	311	314	367	378	384

The inhabitants are called Colmarsiens.

Mountains and peaks

There are numerous high points in the commune. The main ones are:

• Tête de l'Encombrette (2682m)
• Autapie (2426m)
• Roche Cline
• Valpane

History

The name of the village comes from a hill dedicated to Mars by the Romans ("Collo Marto"). The village was originally situated further up a hill, but the site was judged to be too cramped and not possible to expand any further, so it was abandoned. It was destroyed by Raymond de Turenne in 1390.

Modern era

In the French Wars of Religion, the site was the target of several attacks:

• Paulon de Mauvans, a Protestant captain, pillaged the village in 1560;
• Cartier, a captain operating on behalf on de Mauvans, took and ransommed the village in 1583;
• The French Catholic League sacked the village a few years later.

See also

• Verdon River
• Col d'Allos
• Communes of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department

References

• INSEE

External links

• Webpage about the fortifications